National Doughnut Day today

Americans around the nation will today pay homage to the humble doughnut, aka donut, for the 71st year.

Originally introduced in 1938 as a fundraising event by the Chicago Salvation Army, National Doughnut Day has become part of modern day American culture.

Across America independent and franchise doughnut stores will celebrate the deep fried piece of dough with a hole in the middle that first emerged in the early 1800s by giving away free doughnuts to customers.

The traditional hole-in the middle ring of deep fried dough sprinkled with sugar has evolved from its humble beginnings and is now available in the traditional torus shape, glazed with a seemingly endless range of toppings, or as a round or sphere shaped object injected with jam, jelly, cream, custard, or other sweet fillings, or topped with similar high calorific flavourings.

Traditionally celebrated on the first Friday of June, National Doughnut Day is perhaps the one day of the year when Americans can chow down on a bag of the starch, sugar and fat snacks without feeling to guilty about their bulging waist lines or dimpled bum cheeks.

Throughout the US major chains such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme will be handing out the calorie busting snacks, with the former giving a doughnut of choice to customers making any purchase, and the latter giving out doughnuts with no purchase required.